Overview

Parkhill School is an intensive therapeutic day program serving children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges. Specialized education strategies are complemented by a structured behavioral program enriched with individual and group counseling. Parkhill School reflects the belief that every child deserves a quality education that recognizes and enhances each student’s character, strengths, talents and abilities.

Academics

The curriculum at Parkhill School is individualized to meet each child’s specific educational needs.

Parkhill School faculty are highly qualified and have specialized at the undergraduate and graduate level in areas such as child development, psychology, special education, and the sciences and humanities. In addition to courses geared to meet the high school graduation requirements as defined by local school districts, Parkhill School is able to provide students with a strong extracurricular experience.

Homework is assigned to reinforce lessons from the school day. Each student has an individual homework program to instill appropriate study patterns to develop growth and independence. Teachers include homework policies on their course descriptions and syllabi. Students earn daily points for the completion of homework assignments. College counselors are available to work with students preparing to enter community college or university.

Independent Study Program

Parkhill is proud to offer an Independent Study Program (ISP) for students who require an alternative schedule to accommodate a variety of needs, such as work or family responsibilities or have social-emotional or other life challenges which limit their ability to attend school full-time. Parkhill’s ISP program addresses their educational needs by providing curriculum packets specifically planned to advance each student’s progress toward graduation.

The ISP program utilizes a small group tutorial approach. Support services including Counseling, Speech and Language, Occupational Therapy and transition services are available to assist students working toward graduation.

The ISP program operates Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Students attend three hours of instruction three days per week. Individual instruction is available for assignments which require additional teacher support. Transportation is available.

Student Life

Parkhill School has a commitment to introducing our students to a variety of experiences. Annual events such as Multi-Cultural Day, Science Fair and Career Expo expose our students to different cultures and communities and career and school opportunities that they may not otherwise encounter in their lives. Students, parents and community members volunteer their time to make these events successful. School clubs are also an integral part of the Parkhill experience and include a thriving Girls Group, Life After High School Group, Comic Book Club and an Anime Fan Club.

Character Development

At Parkhill School CHARACTER COUNTS! We base our program on six ethical values that are woven throughout our school program and curriculum. These “pillars” are taught directly, infused into core curriculum, modeled by faculty and acknowledged when demonstrated by the students. Monthly recognition award assemblies reinforce these values to our students.

The six Pillars of Character include:

Trustworthiness

Respect

Responsibility

Fairness

Caring

Citizenship

As our students grow academically, they begin to embody the characteristics that will help them become independent, conscious, participating citizens ready to embrace the challenges of our ever-changing world.

Athletics

Physical education and athletics complement and enrich the academic experience and are integral to every student’s educational plan and personal growth. The athletic program is designed to foster enjoyment in physical activity as well as a life-long commitment to health and fitness. Students are eligible to participate in competitive league play where they learn to make positive contributions to the team, to work together, to develop confidence and to enhance their athletic skills. Current teams include Softball, Flag Football and Basketball. In addition to league play, Parkhill School also competes in Soccer and Volleyball tournaments during the year.

Job Training

Students who are seeking to enter the work force post-graduation are eligible to participate in Parkhill’s vocational training programs funded through The Department of Rehabilitation and The State Department of Education.

The Workability Program offers high school students opportunities to gain valuable vocational training through enriched curriculum, career awareness and exploration, pre-employment skills training and work experiences. Students 16 and older may be eligible to participate in a paid work placement in local area businesses. Students have the opportunity to work in a variety of settings, including customer service, retail sales, animal care, plant operations, child care and food service. Vocational assessment, guidance and support are all provided through the Workability Program to assist students in developing the skills necessary for competitive employment and successful outcomes.

Counseling, Speech & Language, and Occupational Therapy

Many students who attend Parkhill benefit from Counseling or Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS). Its Clinical Department consists of experienced therapists who are dedicated to providing the highest quality clinical services. Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy are also available to address specific challenges that may affect a student’s ability to effectively access the educational curriculum. Treatment with all professionals involved in the student’s therapeutic and educational life is coordinated to ensure that comprehensive treatment plans with clearly defined goals and objectives are developed to meet the individual needs of our students.

Transition Services

The transition from high school to the next chapter is one that must be carefully and thoughtfully addressed. Parkhill School has implemented an evidence-based schoolwide Career and Transition Program. Our teachers and therapists work individually and in groups with our students to develop appropriate annual goals for transition which focus on helping our students have successful futures. Each student has a transition portfolio, which contains materials required by the district that pertain to the students’ future goals. Students have off-site work training options with the Workability program and the state’s Department of Rehabilitation.

Campus

The Help Group’s Parkhill School is located on a 3-acre campus in Van Nuys.